Mark Calderwood is to return to his London roots after signing for an extended trial with Harlequins and could make his debut in the unusual surroundings of the Honorary Artillery Club on Friday.

Calderwood, the former Leeds wing who was Super League's leading try-scorer three times in four seasons between 2002 and 2005, began training with Quins this week and hopes to play in their first pre-season fixture against London Skolars in the annual Capital Challenge, which will again be staged on the HAC's playing fields in the heart of the City.

The 29-year-old, who has nine England caps, was born in London then spent several years in Leicester before his family moved to Yorkshire. He was released by Hull at the end of last season after a number of hamstring injuries restricted him to four senior appearances.

Quins have given him until the end of next month to prove his fitness and hope that he will provide the squad with much-needed pace and experience. "I would like to give Mark the opportunities to show the quality he has in the past," the Harlequins coach, Rob Powell, said. "I know he could be a great addition to the squad."

Powell had been hoping to sign Josh Charnley, a young Wigan centre who impressed in a loan spell at Hull KR last season. But with the Australian backs Pat Richards and Brett Finch unavailable for the start of the season, the Wigan coach, Michael Maguire, has ruled out releasing Charnley.

Leigh will include a new name in their pre-season match against Warrington on Sunday, although his face will be very familiar. Robbie Paul, the 34-year-old New Zealander who has so enriched the British game since arriving at Bradford as a teenager in the last winter season of 1995-96, will be known as Robbie Hunter-Paul in his swansong season in the Co-operative Championship, having taken his wife's name when he married Natalie Hunter in Auckland last month.

"I'm the type of person who is always open to new ideas," he said. "I have taken a lot of flak already – all in jest. Natalie is an extremely proud, strong and individualistic woman and there was never a doubt about the concept of sharing names. I'm really excited about playing my final season in rugby league under my new married name."

Mrs Hunter-Paul, a Dundee University graduate in English and psychology who is originally from Yorkshire and is taking a masters in social work in Salford, said: "When I suggested it to Robbie, I had all my feminist arguments prepared. When it comes to breaking with tradition, I think some actions mean a lot more than words."